Alfred Morris batters Cowboys, puts Redskins in playoffs

Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) scores a touchdown in the second half in of the Washington Redskins game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights
  • Alfred Morris rushed for 200 yards to power the Redskins to a 28-18 win over the Cowboys.
  • The win sealed the NFC East for the Redskins and ends a four-year playoff drought.
  • Washington will host Seattle in an NFC wild-card game on Sunday.

    LANDOVER, Md. -- The $21.1 million rookie limped around on a busted knee – faster than most – but clearly not himself.

    His friend, the $2.2 million rookie, was crutch, catalyst and closer on a night the Washington Redskins ended a four-year playoff drought.

    No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III had one of his poorest passing days rescued by Alfred Morris, the running back chosen five rounds later who rushed for 200 yards in a 28-18, playoff-clinching victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

    BOX SCORE: Redskins 28, Cowboys 18

    Washington (10-6) hosts Seattle (11-5) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET after claiming the NFC East crown on the final night of the 2012 regular season.

    The quirky young runner, who despite his new contract continued to drive a 1991 Mazda sedan until it wouldn't start a few weeks ago, set a Redskins team record for individual rushing yards in a season with 1,613. He was a notable NFC Pro Bowl snub before Sunday, and might be in the rookie of the year conversation in any year that didn't include a Griffin III, Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson.

    A cupcake aficionado with a permanent smile, the pudgy Morris exploited cutback lane after cutback lane, waltzing into the end zone with the underwhelming 4.64-second 40-yard-dash speed that probably made him a late-round pick in April.

    Asked if other teams missed what the Redskins saw in Morris, coach Mike Shanahan admitted last week: "Well, to be honest with you, we took him in the sixth round. So, we are not that smart either."

    PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: Breaking down every matchup

    At the conclusion of 17- and 32-yard touchdown runs, Morris tee'd up an imaginary baseball and knocked it out of the park – a tribute to a little league team he met at a hotel during spring OTAs.

    He's scored 13 times this season – a Redskins record for rookies receiving or rushing – but none were more crucial than Sunday's, which lifted Washington into the postseason for the first time since 2007.

    Morris' value on Sunday and beyond was perhaps most evident on a play he didn't even carry the ball. A Griffin III fake handoff to Morris on one of the pistol option plays Mike and Kyle Shanahan installed this season left Cowboys former Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware flat-footed long enough for Griffin III to run 10 yards into the end zone to take a 14-7 third quarter lead. Morris followed up with his 32-yard cutback down the heart of Dallas' injury-hampered front.

    Washington linebacker Rob Jackson, part of a stunning defensive effort, sealed a victory with a fourth-quarter interception of Romo which set up a 1-yard Morris touchdown run. Romo finished with 218 passing for two scores and three picks. Griffin III, operating on a sprained knee suffered three weeks ago, turned in 100 yards on 9 of 18 passing and 63 yards on six carries.
    Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/30/washington-redskins-dallas-cowboys-alfred-morris/1799895/